Tesco Lotus is the Thai version of Costco and is thirty minutes from Chaiprakarn, in the city of Fang.  A Tesco Lotus draws people from villages, towns, cities and tribes for a hundred miles to buy manufactured goods that can't be found at local stationary shops or Seven Elevens. Today, however, the Tesco parking lot drew a unique crowd - Christians, and well over a thousand of them. The five-hour Christmas celebration began with a march downtown and featured a dozen dances, bands, a worship team, raffle prizes, the largest potluck I have ever seen and, as requested by the organizer, a couple of songs by the North American missionaries from Sila Home. 

 

     That last one came as a surprise to me only three days ago and let me tell you, I wasn't pleased. I have zero desire to sing Jingle Bells and Joy to the World in front of one thousand plus people. Especially considering that, and no offense to them, but on my team it isn't just me that lacks a little in the musical department. I'm not sure, but I think that if I were to pick five people on my squad not to be in a choir, it would be the five people on my team. We warned our contact that we were rather awful but they still wanted us to sing, so we sang, and to draw attention away from our voices we created a silly dance. Luckily for us, they put us on while everyone was eating, so the majority of the attention was focused on food. 

 

     It is funny though because I prepared my heart coming on this trip to be willing to do whatever God has for us. I was prepared to live uncomfortably without modern convienences and securities. I knew I would love on people that were gross and have to preach and share things that I'm not comfortable with. Mustering up the willingness to do a singing performance is not something I had in mind. 

 

"Aren't you willing to do whatever God calls you to?" Mae asked after my initial and rather infuriated response.

 

"God did NOT call me to do that, it is just something that someone thought of, and it is stupid," I responded, convinced. 

 

"What is the worst that can happen?"

 

"Well, well, people will hate it so much that they won't want to come back next year," I said, clearly just being defensive, because that was kind of a ridiculous answer. "We'll look like fools. Ignorant, imposing, self-inflated fools!"

 

I don't remember what Mae said, but I think my inner voice of truth took over well enough. 

 

Then lay down your pride...

 

And so I sang, simply because it was asked of me. I didn't like it, it was uncomfortable, but it was kind of fun too. That day I realized what an oppurtunity it was too, to pray, 'Joy to the World,' over that place. I got to stand in the middle of a Thai parking lot, a Buddist statue just off to the left and declare -

 

Joy to the World,

The Lord has Come,

Let earth recieve her king,

Let every heart prepare Him room,

And heaven and nature sing.

 

In other words -

Be freakin' thrilled, everybody!

Jesus rescued us from the nothingness and pain of this life!

Let Him into your heart, let His presence penetrate your life

And then sing about it alongside every living thing!

 

So, all in all, it was a learning experience in not having expetations about how God wants to challenge you. I also enjoyed knowing that all the Christians for an hours drive around were in one place to worship and have fun in community. The girls from Sila home did a fantastic job performing a traditional hilltribe dance and I enjoyed spending all four hours worth of the night with seven year old Nung curled up on my lap. 

 

Merry Christmas. :)